Two Things Most of Us Eventually Contemplate
Why I’m creating an entrepreneurial journalism project on the God beat about faith, culture and meaning.
“You don’t know what you don’t know. You think you know, but you don’t have any idea.”
He said it with passion. We sat in a studio, wearing headphones, mic’d up for my interview with him, part of an audio series of people’s stories and how their beliefs impact how they live. I asked, “Were you afraid of losing your faith?”
“Of losing my faith. Losing my life.”
After the interview, we sat outside in the sun talking, both a little spent. I ended up sharing my story with him, not something I normally do while reporting, but it seemed only right. I‘d had a demarcation event, too— a before and after, that impacted the course of my life, beliefs, and shaped my “why.”
Lots of people are hurting. Last week, I overheard someone say, “Are you exhausted too? Is it the world?” The world is a little nutty now. As Ryan Burge, a religion data expert told me, “We fell off the rails somewhere along the way, like Covid broke us.”
At some point along life’s trajectory most of us contemplate two things— our spiritual life, and a meaningful life. I’ll be talking about both.
A colleague put it this way: “Many people are spiritually struggling, longing for something.” We long for meaning in our life.
Viktor Frankl, a Jewish-Austrian holocaust survivor, wrote this in Man’s Search for Meaning:
“Life is never made unbearable by circumstances, but only by lack of meaning and purpose.” …and, “Man can only find meaning for his existence in something outside himself.”
What I’m doing
I’m creating a journalistic storytelling project on the God beat to inspire faith and faith-interested people who love books and culture to live a life rich with meaning.
It will be a newsletter with curated and original essays, audio, conversations and recommendations.
It’s called:
The newsletter: What We Believe — A reporter’s notebook
And later, a podcast: What We Believe: Stories shaped by faith, tested by life.
Join the newsletter waitlist here.
It’s for:
- Faith and faith-interested people. Who bring their committed religious self, or those who just want to listen in on others thinking from a religious perspective, or discussing meaning.
- Those in the “middle space.” Who’ve ever felt too religious for their secular friends and seen as not committed enough in faith circles.
- Readers, podcast listeners, and culture consumers. (Of faith-based and mainstream content.)
Erica, one of my readers said,
“The secular space as a person of faith is my jam. I want to figure out how to live in that space. Talking about the wonder we find in the universe that God has created and the beauty of faith, the mystery of it and the peace of it.”
Many of us find meaning through faith. Despite rising secularization and declining religious affiliation, faith is a key driver in life for many people. According to Faith Facts, “79% of studies show that religion has a positive effect on well-being and happiness.”
Burge said, “There’s still a grand openness to the idea of religion.”
And cultural works —words, voices, stories and more — inspire us, give vision. Hope. That engage life’s big questions, or simply delight. That awaken our sense of wonder and awe from a mesmerizing starry night sky to love. As Victor Hugo said in Les Miserable, “To love another person is to see the face of God.”
In the newsletter you can expect to:
- Get recommendations. I consume a lot (books, online, audio documentary, radio, talks, podcasts). I do the work for you.
- Expand your spiritual reading journey. Be inspired to go deeper.
- Discover new voices and ideas.
- Connect your faith journey with others; our deep questions with answers others are finding
- Feel seen. See yourself. See God at work in a painful world. See people dedicated to that chase.
Why I can fill the gap I see
I call it my trifecta: Journalism + Story + Faith
You often get two of the three. Journalism + story = narrative journalism. Story + Faith = books and shows like The Chosen. Faith + Journalism = a lot of mainstream religion coverage of which a fair bit skews negative, from exposés to controversies to yet another fallen leader. Necessary reporting, but we get weary. Again?
The trifecta of all three is my specialty.
One study showed 8 in 10 believe faith groups need to give media relevant spokespeople, particularly with lived experience. And man do I have that, which is what I shared that day in the sun with the man I interviewed.
A short story about a long awakening
I’m a longtime journalist and have published five books. My last a memoir. A long time ago, hours after having a baby, I was put into a medically induced coma and woke up two months later.
To a baby I didn’t know. A medical story I didn’t know. On life support, and near death multiple times. I came home after almost four months, shredded. Altered.
I’ve been navigating and writing about what really matters ever since. How does what I believe impact how I live? And how can I live a story with meaning? My perspective is from a Christian tradition, and I’m interested in talking within and between faiths and… the edges of that niche. Throughout my career, I’ve done journalism and personal writing. In this project, I’m including both. I’ll be writing and curating for you, with a personal voice and journalistic sensibility.
This was developed in partnership with the Entrepreneurial Journalism Creators Program from a graduate school I love — CUNY’s Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism. I was honored to be accepted to the sixth cohort in 2023 from a competitive global applicant pool. It’s a 100 day-long, rigorous program and I highly recommend it.
What’s in the newsletter
- Writing — Short reflections. Essays (mine and others).
- Audio — Storytelling. Clips. Interviews. Conversations. Personal stories.
- Skimmable resources — What to read, listen to, links to other’s stories. Literary quotes.
Curated in a journalistic way — sources, studies, commentary on why I included it. And every now and then a playlist. In other’s work I want to highlight: Beautiful writing. Journalistic storytelling. Artful audio.
My favorite part—most issues feature:
A Theme > A Driving Question or Idea > Segments around that
Segments like Faith in the Wild and The Good. Stories about hope, doubt, identity, resilience.
How you can be part of this
Join the waitlist here to be one of the first readers when the newsletter launches. I’d love to build this with you, not just for you. Connect with me at contact [at] lindseyoconnor.com.
- If you want to share input, collaborate, or suggest someone I should interview, please connect.
- If you’re a writer, pitch me. (When we secure funding contributors will be paid.)
- If you’re a publisher, recommend any of your authors who would be a good fit for me to highlight.
- If you’re an audio producer, reach out with any short pieces or clips you’ve already produced that might fit.
- If you’re an editor, let’s collaborate for a print or radio series.
We’re exploring support and revenue options and welcome all ideas.
My hope for this work:
We’ll reflect on our own spiritual questions. Understand one another better. Find sparks to live with greater meaning and purpose. That you’ll find great things to read and listen to, and feel a little joy. And share it with someone.
Lindsey O’Connor is a longtime journalist, a five-time author and an audio producer with a specialty in religion. Socials @LindseyOConnor. Connect on Threads, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, at lindseyoconnor.com, and contact [at] lindseyoconnor.com.
